America's wealthiest hedge fund manager stepping up philanthropy: in January gave $4 million to Haiti. Last year pledged $35 million to help New York State buy school supplies for 850,000 underprivileged children. Also donating $100 million to recession-torn countries in central Europe. Has given away $7 billion since 1979, much through his Open Society Institute. Survived Nazi occupation of Hungary; procured scholarship at London School of Economics. Launched Quantum Fund 1969. With Stanley Druckenmiller shorted England's currency, "broke" British pound 1992; said to have made $1 billion in one day when Bank of England stopped fixing exchange rate. Closed fund to new investors several years later. Today manages nest egg via Quantum Endowment Fund. Assets: $27 billion. Came out of retirement in 2007, returned 32% on bearish bets. Fund was up 8% in 2008, 29% last year net of fees.